Abstract #1540

Perfusion Imaging of Inflammatory Thyroid Diseases Using an Arterial Spin Labeling Technique

Christina Schraml¹, Karsten Mssig², Petros Martirosian¹, Nina F. Schwenzer¹, Andreas Boss¹, Claus D. Claussen³, Hans U. Hring², Bernd Balletshofer², Fritz Schick

¹Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Section on Experimental Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, BW, Germany; ²Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, BW, Germany; ³Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, BW, Germany

Thyroid inflammation pathologies are related to changes in thyroid tissue perfusion which cannot be quantified absolutely by the established imaging modalities. The aim of the present study was to investigate thyroid perfusion in autoimmune inflammatory thyroid diseases (Graves-Basedow and Hashimotos thyroiditis) by using an arterial spin-labeling approach working without contrast media administration. Perfusion maps of diagnostic quality were created by means of the extended Bloch equations. Perfusion values were calculated by ROI-analysis revealing significantly different perfusion values in the examined patient groups in comparison to healthy volunteers. Perfusion imaging may be helpful in diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid inflammation pathologies.